Egg cartoning machine and method



May 20, i941.

,H. c. JOHNSON EGG CARTONING MACHINE AND METHOD 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed ADrl 1 s INN l QR m, -RHHJNM o su m E 4.4 1mm L N m a ,f m Ww 9v o fw QQ mJ A un QN. z l mm, @QN hm, Z QB WB QB WU S1 a 5 H M May 20, 1941. H., C. JOHNSON '2,242,304

EGG CARTONING MACHINE ANI? METHOD Filed April 10, 1939 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A i INVENT'OR.

ATTORNEY5- Patented May 20, 1941 l Locking of Illinois Carton Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation Application April 10, 1939,- Seriai N0. 267,012

'l Claims.

'I'he present invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for packaging eggs, including the operations of loading them in cellular cartons after inspection, and closing the cartons for shipment. A

A principal object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for use in packaging eggs, in which a main conveyor belt cooperating with a carton-erecting machine has positioned on it a carton-closing mechanism deriving its motivating power directly from the belt. y

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of handling eggs in a packing room.

An additional object is the provision of an improved type of carton-closing device which is stationarily positioned adjacent a conveyor night and provided with rotary mechanism enlgaging the conveyor and deriving power thererom.

These and other objects will be observed upon a considerationof the following speciiication and bjlr1i rlferenceto the accompanying drawings, in w c Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the apparatus bywhich the improved method of packing is carried out; l

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe novel type-of carton-closing equipment which constitutes a part of the invention:

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 taken along line 3 3 thereof:

Fig. 4 'isa transverse sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and v Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along line 6 3 of Fig. 5.

It has been customary for a number of years to package eggs in paperboard cartons. A carton which has met with particular favor in the industry is described in Troyk Reissue PatentNo. 18,922. For the purpose of explaining the present invention the description will be withreference to this type of carton.

The carton is produced by suitably cutting,

The cartons are manufactured in collapsed condition and it is customary to employ a machine which will set the cartons up into erect condition ready for the receipt of eggs. A machine of this general character is indicated diagrammatically at in Fig. 1, a more particular description of the machine being given in Burger Patent No. 2,018,396. Y

In the machinecollapsed cartons -shown in stacked relation at 2| are erected in consecutive fashion and delivered from the platform 22 to the continuous conveyor 23. 'I'he conveyor 23 consists of a wide belt which passes about the end drums 24- and 25, one of the latter being scoring and folding a paperboard blank to form a front wall I0. an inverted V-shaped bottom II, a. rear wall I2, a top I3, a closure ilap I4 having cover-locking hooks I5, cross partitions I6 and an attaching strip glued to the rear wall, the cross pmtitions being; hinged to the front and rear walls by the triangular hinge sections I8. Reference is made to the Troyk reissue patent for a further description of the carton.

driven at the desired speedv as by a motor (not shown). A rigid support 26 is provided beneath the conveyor.

After traveling along the upper flight of the conveyor in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 1 the erected cartons form a horizontal stack against the stop member 21, which is shown located adjacent drum 25. This stop member also is located adjacent a candling station indicated by the candling devices 28.

Between the candling devices 28 and the setting-up machine there is positioned a cartonclosing device which has rotary elements frictionally engaging and deriving power fromv the under side or return night of the conveyor.

'I'he improved closing device has two longitudinally extending frame bars 30 and 3|, these bars being spaced apart a distance slightly in excess of the width of the carton to be closed. The receiving end of the bar 3| has'mounted upon itl a wheel-receiving journal 32. A similar wheel journal 33 is mounted on the corresponding end of the frame bar 30. Both of the wheel journais 32 and 33 are adjustable longitudinally of the frame bars by means of screws 34 and slots 33.

Secured to the-under side of the frame bar 3| 'adjacent the member 32 is an outwardly turned yguide plate 36. A similar guide plate 31 is attached to the under side of the frame member 30. It will be understood that a carton approaching the closing device on the conveyor will be received between the guide members 33 and 3l and thereby is properly positioned with .respect to the closing mechanism.

At its opposite end the bar 3| is provided with the journal 38, and at the corresponding end of the frame member 30 is provided a similar journal' 39. Extending through the, journals 33 and 39 is a shaft 40. A channeled pulley 4| is secured to one end of the shaft 40 and a similar channeled Wheel 42 is secured to the other end of the shaft.

The journal member 32 has an outwardly extending shaft 43 upon which is mounted a channeled pulley 44. A similar channeled pulley 45 is similarly mounted on a shaft secured in the housing 33.

The flanged belt 45 extends about the pulleys 4| and 44 and is frictionally engaged in the channels of these pulleys to provide a positive drive therefor. A similar flanged belt 41 extends about pulleys 42 and 45.

To maintain the closing device in predetermined position with respect to the conveyor belt are provided the side flanges 58 secured in spaced relation to frame member 30. Each of the bars and is mounted in journals secured thereto.

` On the opposite end of the shaft 18 from the flanges 50 has a downwardly depending yoke 5| secured to it by a nut 52. The yokes-5I receive a guide plate 53 which is secured to the edge of support member 26, as shown in Fig. 5. It will be seen that although there is no rigid connection between the closing device and the conveyor, the yoke members 5| will act to maintain the closing device in fixed Itransverse position with respect to the conveyor.

On each side of the closing device there is provided a drive belt which assists in progressing the carton to be closed through the device. On the side of the closing device adjacent the frame member 3| is provided a side ange 54 which houses the vertical shaft 55 upon which is rotatably mounted the pulley 55, the latter rotating in a horizontal plane. Pulley 56 is mounted adjacent the feed end of the device and a similar pulley 51 is mounted adjacent the opposite end of the device but forward of the pulley 4 I. Shaft 58 upon which thepulley 51 is mounted is longer than the shaft 55 and extends upwardly to the beveled gear 59. A continuous beveled conveyor belt 68 encompasses the pulley wheels 56 and 51. The inner flight of the belt 60 extends slightly inwardly of the frame member so as to contac-t an egg car-ton passing through the device.

There is a. standard 6| extending upwardly from the frame bars 30 and 3| andthis standard carries a transverse shaft 62. One end of the shaft 62 carries a beveled gear 63 which meshes with the gear 59. Gear 83 has a sprocket 64 which carries a chain 65. The chain 65 also passes about a sprocket 66 which is rigidly mounted to the pulley 4|. It will be seen that j movement of the conveyor 23 causes movement of the belt 46 and sprocket 4|, thereby rotating sprocket 66, chain 65, sprocket 64 and shaft 62. This drive also causes rotation of the pulley 51 and belt 5U.

On the side of the machine adjacent frame member 36 is mounted a forward lange 61 which carries the shaft 68 upon which is rotatably mounted a -pulley 69, this construction being similar to that on the opposite side of the machine. At the rear of the machine but forward of pulley l42 is mounted a. pulley 18, this pulley having an upwardly extending shaft 1| provided with a journal 12 which is secured to the frame bar. On the upper'end of shaft 1| is a beveled gear 13. 'I'his construction is the same, again, as the corresponding pulley construction on the opposite side of the machine. e

The beveled gear 13 meshes with gear 14 which is mounted on 'the end of shaft 62. Gear 14 has i a sprocket 15 and the sprocket carries a. chain 16 which meshes with and drives the sprocketV 11, the latter being secured to the transverse shaft 18. The shaft 18 extends between the frame sprocket 11 is a beveled rubber wheel -19 which is shown in detail in Fig. 5.

The guide plate 82 is secured beneath the frame bar 30 adjacent wheel 19 and extends backwardlytherefrom as shown in Fig. 2. A similar plate 83 is secured to the bar 3|, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5.

A drive belt passes about the pulleys 69 and 10 and presents an inner face in the path of travel of the carton passing through the device.

In order to provide contact between the inner flight of the belt 60 and a carton passing through the device there are mounted a series of rollers 84 which bear against the drive belt 60, as shown in Fig. 2. These rollers are carried by a bar 85 winch is secured to the frame bar 30 by brackets 85, as shown in Fig. 4. As a carton presses outwardly against the inner face of belt 50, the belt contacts the rollers 84 and further outward movement is prevented. At the same time the rollers do not offer frictional resistance to the travel of the belt 80.

On .the oppoosite side of the machine the brackets 81 are secured to and depend from the frame member 3|, as shown in Fig. 4. Brackets 81 initially extend downwardly, then outwardly and then upwardly to form channel portions,

across which extend the rods 88. Rods 88 pass through the loosely fitted slip lugs 89 which are pressed inwardly of the device by means of compression springs 90. Across the upper por-tion of the slip lugs 89 extends a metallic strap 9 I. Depending from the strap 9| are a series of rollers 92 which correspond to the rollers 84. It will be member which is independent of the closing device and the conveyor mechanism, thus preventing the device from being carried along with the conveyor. A backwardly extending L-shaped lever arm 95 has one end secured to the standard 93. A second lever arm 96 pivotally connected to the free end of the lever arm 95 extends upwardly at an angle, as shown in Fig. 3, and is pivotally connected to an extension 91 which is rigidly connected to the standard 6|. The action of this leverage mechanism is to increase the pressure of the carton-closing device against the conveyor when the resistance of the belts 46 and 41 is increased by a carton passing through the device.

The mechanism as described is particularly well adapted for conveying a carton loaded with eggs past closing devices which are operative to fold the cover of the carton over into closed position and to secure the cover-locking hooks I5 beneath the triangular hinges I8 of the carton. Specific mechanism for performing this function is shown in the drawings. This mechanism in general corresponds to the construction shown in Burger Patent No. 1,994,241.

An initial element of the carton-closing construction is the guide member which extends transversely across the space between the frame member in the path of travel of the carton and is so shaped as to effect rotation of the cover from upraised 'position to a general horizontal position. The guide bar may be brazed or welded to the standard 33 for support. At the rear end of the guide rod |00 there is mounted a. vertical bar |0l. The upper end oi the bar |0| carries a nut and .the bar itself is slidably received by the bracket |02, the latterv being secured to standard 6|. A compression spring |03 biases the rear end ofthe rod |00 toward downward position, but the rod may be pressed up-l wardly against the-resistance of the spring |03. to prevent breakage of eggs by reason of undue rigidity.

'Ihe second element of the carton-closing device consists of a guide member |04 which extends from the frame members 3| immediately across the space between the frame members and then backwardly substantially parallel thereto. The cover of a. carton being closed passes over the rod |04 and .the rear extension of the rod engages the inner portion of the rearA closing device and `engage the guide members |00, |04, |05, |06l and |01 and the closing operation is completed by the beveled rubber wheel 19, as 'will be seen from Figs. 4 and 5. The

wall of the carton, as shown lin Figs. 4 and 5,

thereby positioning the carton with respect to transverse movement.

The third element of. the closing equipment consists of a guide member |05 which is shaped to engage the rear portion of the cover of a carton, as shown in Fig. 4, and to prevent the cover from buckling backwardly during the closing operation;

The fourth closing element consists of a guide member |06 which contacts the under side of the cover adjacent the fold lines between the cover and the cover-locking strip, as shown in Fig. 4.

The guide |06 cooperates with the fth guide |.0.1, which deiiects the cover-locking-strip inwardly beyond the front wall, as will be seen in Fig. 4.

The five guide members present the 'leading In the operation of the equipment described the action of the automatic carton setting-up machine 20 is such as to provide a continuous supply of erected cartons to the operators adjacent the candling devices 28. Cases of eggs are positioned adjacent the candling devices and the operator removes cartons from the upper iiight of the conveyor belt 23, fills the cartons with candled eggs at this pointl and places the loaded cartons on the upper surface of the lower flight of the conveyor belt leading to the closing device. Itis desirable that the equipment be operated at a speed which will allow about 'three candlers to work together in th'e scribed.

The loaded cartons are placed on the return flight of the conveyor 23 so that the front end of the carton will be received withinthe guide members of the closer. 1 It is not necessary to space the cartons in any particular fashion, since the construction of the closing device is such that it will receive and operate upon cartons in adjacent relation or spaced apart. It will be noted that there are no carrying lugs on the conveyor belt'23, the construction of the closer being such as to make this unnecessary.

manner del closing device is maintained Aagainst longitudinal travel by the brace 94, and belts 46 and 41 frictionally engage the conveyor 23 by reason -of the Weight of) the device pressing the belts downwardly against the conveyor. Thus, the pulleys engaging belts 46 and 41 rotate and rotation thereby is impartial to the horizontal .drive belts 60 and 80. The belts- 60 and 80 are positioned apart a. distance which is suiiicient to allow, a loaded egg carton to pass therebetween, but close enough together to exert lirictional engagement with the carton, thereby. positively driving thecarton through the guide members. If the carton tends to j am, the levers 9 5 and 96 cause the rear end of the closing device to press downwardly against the conveyor moreA firmly and thereby to provide greater tractionfor the belts 46 and 41 and morepositive drive for the belts 60 and 00. In this way there is generated whatever power is necessary to pass the carton through the device.

It will be noted that the rollers 02 press against the side of the cartons resiliently by reason of the action of springs 90. This affords sufficient friction for driving the carton through the device, butprevents breakage o! eggs by too much rigidity.

After the closed cartonpasses from the closing device it isvremoved from the return iiight of the conveyor 23 and packed in a case or otherwise suitably handled. It will be noted that the arrangement provides for a maximum emclency in the packing of eggs. In fact, the candling operation is the only manual part oi the method. The closing device may be used at any particular point along the conveyor and has a further advantage of eliminating the necessity for providing multiple drives for the conveyor and closing unit. Both nights of the conveyor are utilized to advantage. While inexpensive in construction and operation, the equipment'is of great operative advantage.

It will be recognized that many changes may be made in the particular construction shown and described for purposes oi.' explanation and illustration; and such changes are intended -to be included in the appended claims.

cover of cartons passing through said device.

2. A devicefor closing the covers of cartons of the type having frontand rear walls,`cross partitions connected to said walls by means of hinged members and a cover attached to the rear wall and provided with cover-locking hooks along the freer edge thereof, which comprises a relatively As the cartons travel longitudinally of thev return flight of the conveyor they pass into the wide belt conveyor and mechanism operated vby said conveyor, said mechanism including guide progressing a carton, and means for rotating the covers of cartons into closed position and for engaging the cover-locking portionsy thereof with the hinged portions thereof during progress of said cartons.

3. A device for closing the covers of cartons of the type having cross partitions and front and rear walls, comprising a relatively wide conveyor for cartons, longitudinally extending spaced frame members positioned adjacent said con-- prising a relatively wide conveyor, spaced frame members of less width than said conveyors positioned thereabove, means for preventing longitudinal movement of said frame members with veyor, pulleysand belts carried by said frame members and engaging said conveyor and deriving motion therefrom, means operatedby the motion of said belts for progressing cartons between said frame members, and means for closing the cover of a carton progressed between said frame members and engaging said cover with cross Partitions. A,

4. A device for closing the cover of an egg carton of the type having a cover adapted tobe folded over and engaged with cross partitions, which comprises a relatively wide longitudinally extending conveyor, spaced pulleys having a longitudinally extending continuous belt engaged thereabout and frictionally driven by said conveyor, means for preventing longitudinal motion of said pulleys and belts, means driven by said pulleys and belts for progressing a carton along said conveyor, and means for closing the cover of said carton and engaging the same with cross partitions during progress of said carton.

5. A device for closing the cover of an egg 'carton of the type having a cover adapted tube folded over and engaged with cross partitions, comsaid conveyor, fore and after pulleys carried on each side of said frame member, frictional belts engaging saidpulleys and being positioned on said conveyor for movement thereby, side acting pulleys and belts driven by said first named pulleys and belts for progressing cartons between said frame members, and means between said frame members for closing the covers of cartons and engaging the same with cross partitions during progress of cartons between said frame members. I

6. A device for closing the cover of a cellular egg carton, comprising a relatively wide conveyor y tons during progress thereof along said return flight.

HARRY C. JOHINSON4 

